Healthy Meatloaf Recipe (2024)

Published on

by Erin

We absolutely love this Healthy Meatloaf Recipe!! It is traditional comfort food that the whole family will love! Our family has been loving this recipe for years!

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Best Ever Healthy Meatloaf

I know some people’s initial reaction to meatloaf is …. eh meatloaf? I know. I get it. But you HAVE to try this version. It is one of my absolute favorite meals and my kids devour it every time! This recipe is a true family favorite that we have been making for a long time! This meatloaf recipe does take 1.5 hours to bake. If you don’t have that much time, you should definitely try our mini meatloaf recipe! Same great flavor, but a fraction of the time to cook.

And if you love this recipe you have to try our Smoked Meatloaf (+ smoked green beans) – also amazing!

What You Will Need

  • ground beef & ground pork – this combination of ground meat is the perfect base for a delicious meatloaf!
  • kosher salt & ground black pepper – simple seasonings that are always essential when making meat.
  • dry mustard – a bit for some added flavor.
  • almond flour & egg – these work together as the binding agent so that the meatloaf doesn’t fall apart.
  • unsweetened almond milk – provides a bit of moisture to keep things moist. Option to use regular milk if you want!
  • sweet yellow onion – classic mild flavor that is traditional to most meatloaf recipes.

Is This Meatloaf Recipe Paleo + Whole30

Yes! This recipe is Paleo/Whole30 compliant, but if you aren’t concerned with either of those two lifestyles then you can use oats instead of the almond flour! That’s actually how I grew up eating it, but the almond flour works great too!

Can I Meal-Prep This Recipe

Yes! I prep it all the way to placing it in the bread pan (just before you would put it in the oven). Then I just wrap it with aluminum foil, or whatever works for you, and store it in the fridge overnight until you are ready to bake it! Makes dinner SO easy! Plus, we usual serve a baked potato with it and a big baked potato takes about as long as the meatloaf to make so we just pop them in the oven together and they are ready at about the same time!

How to Make Healthy Meatloaf

You can begin by placing all of your ingredients into medium mixing bowl.

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Mix everything together thoroughly – we typically use our hands.

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Place meat mixture in a prepared bread pan, making sure it is evenly spread out. Pro tip: add some more kosher salt and pepper on top for a little “crust”. Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 1.5 hours.

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Let it cool slightly before transferring to a plate and cutting into thick pieces with knife. We usually serve with ketchup or this Meatloaf Glaze is amazing – but feel free to use whatever you want!

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Best Ways To Serve Healthy Meatloaf

There are so many great options!! For starters, we typically love drizzling our favorite ketchup or BBQ sauce on top of the meatloaf after cutting it into thick slices. You could also spread some ketchup or a meatloaf glaze on top during the last 5-10 minutes it’s baking in the oven. Now, side dishes!! Our all-time favorites are oven baked potatoes (with dairy-free sour cream), simple roasted broccolini, sautéed zucchini, Instant Pot spaghetti squash, and herbed potatoes.

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How To Store Healthy Meatloaf

If you manage to have any leftovers after making this classic meatloaf recipe, you can store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days! This recipe is also great for freezing. You can whip up the meatloaf, place it in the bread pan, wrap in plastic wrap, place in a freezer safe bag, and store in the freezer for up to 6 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and then bake according to the recipe card. If you do choose the freezing option, make sure you use fresh ground beef/pork that hasn’t been priorly frozen.

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Made this recipe and loved it?! We would love it if you would take a minute andleave a star rating and review– it is also helpful if you made any substitutions or changes to the recipe to share that as well. THANK YOU!

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Healthy Meatloaf Recipe (10)

Healthy Meatloaf Recipe

★★★★★5 from 6 reviews

  • Author: Erin Jensen
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe

Description

Healthy Meatloaf: A healthy meatloaf recipe that is Whole30/Paleo and Dairy-Free! A tried and true recipe your family will LOVE!

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1/2 lb ground pork
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1/2 cup almond flour (if you aren’t worried about Whole30/Paleo you can use 1/2 cup oats instead)
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 1 egg
  • 1/23/4 cup diced yellow onion

Instructions

  1. Preheat: Preheat oven to 350 F.
  2. Mix: Add all ingredients into medium mixing bowl and mix thoroughly (I usually just use my hands) until well-combined.
  3. Bread Pan: Place mixture in bread pan, making sure it is evenly spread out.
  4. Seasoning: Sprinkle a little extra salt and pepper on top for a little “crust” (optional).
  5. Bake: Bake for 1.5 hours.
  6. Cool: Let cool slightly before transferring to plate and cutting into thick pieces with a sharp knife.
  7. Serve: Serve with ketchup or BBQ sauce.

Notes

  • Ground Beef/Ground Pork: if you don’t have ground pork you can just use 1.5lbs total of ground beef)
  • Spraying Bread Pan Beforehand: You don’t need to spray your bread pan before use, there is enough fat in the meat that it doesn’t end up sticking. But if you want to it doesn’t hurt.
  • Almond Flour Substitution: Feel free to use oats instead of the almond flour. It will no longer be Whole30/Paleo but it will still be gluten-free (just make sure oats are certified gluten-free) and just as healthy!
  • What to serve with it: We usually put some ketchup or BBQ sauce on top of the meatloaf and then also serving it with some steamed broccoli and baked potato!
  • How to store it: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. It makes really good leftovers!!
  • Smoked: if you want to try a smoked version of this recipe – here you go!

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: Approx. 2 slices
  • Calories: 267
  • Sugar: 1 g
  • Sodium: 292.7 mg
  • Fat: 13.1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 3.3 g
  • Protein: 25.7 g
  • Cholesterol: 103.5 mg

Keywords: healthy meatloaf recipe, paleo meatloaf, whole30 meatloaf, dairy-free meatloaf

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Reader Interactions

Comments

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  1. Jen says

    Do you have any advise on no egg version? Cooking for family with egg allergy. Leave out or substitute?

    Reply

  2. Katie says

    Easy and best paleo or whole 30 meatloaf recipe!

    Reply

    • Erin says

      So happy to hear that, Katie!!

      Reply

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Healthy Meatloaf Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is meatloaf good for a diet? ›

Meatloaf is undoubtedly delicious, but it's not necessarily known for being healthy. In fact, when made using 80% lean ground beef, one pound of meatloaf contains roughly 1,152 calories. But when you cut that down to a serving size of about 4 ounces, it's 350 calories, which seems a lot more reasonable.

What can you use instead of breadcrumbs in meatloaf? ›

Bread Crumb Substitutes

¼ cup panko. ¼ cup cracker or pretzel crumbs. ¼ cup crushed cornflakes or other unsweetened cereals. ⅔ cup regular rolled oats (Use this only as a substitute for bread crumbs in meat loaf and other meat mixtures, such as burgers.

Why add veggies to meatloaf? ›

Not only does it have grated carrot, chopped spinach, grated zucchini mixed into it, but it is wildly flavorful from the addition of Worcestershire sauce and the perfect blend of spices. While veggies add nutrients to this healthy meatloaf recipe, they also help to keep your meatloaf nice and juicy while it cooks.

What makes meatloaf unhealthy? ›

Meatloaf, traditionally made with ground beef or a mix of ground beef, pork and veal, is often too high in fat and sodium to be considered healthy.

Why would you put milk in meatloaf? ›

Milk and other dairy products, like heavy cream and buttermilk, contain both water and fat, adding two types of moisture to our meatloaf. There's a long-held theory that milk can tenderize ground meat, and this is the reason often cited for cooking ground meat in milk to make a Bolognese-style ragù.

What keeps meatloaf from falling apart? ›

When this happens, it's because you didn't use enough. Next time, try adding in an extra egg and/or some more breadcrumbs. Alternatively, rice, barley, corn flakes, crackers, and dried soup mix can also stand in as binding ingredients as well. Including larger quantities of these items should help solve the problem.

Is oatmeal better than bread crumbs in meatloaf? ›

Oats are the perfect substitutes for breadcrumbs in meatballs or meatloaf. While they aren't ideal for a crispy coating, they add the right amount of texture to bind meat, eggs and flavorings together into a delicious Italian-inspired feast.

What is a healthy alternative to bread crumbs? ›

Here Are 5 Creative Ways To Replace Breadcrumbs In Your Dishes:
  • Rolled Oats. Oats are often enjoyed as oatmeal or as part of baked goods. ...
  • Coconut Flour. Coconut flour acts as a wonderful binding agent. ...
  • Almond Flour. Almond flour is another outstanding breadcrumb alternative. ...
  • Ground Flaxseeds. ...
  • Quinoa Flakes.
Aug 29, 2023

What race eats meatloaf? ›

Meatloaf is a traditional German, Scandinavian and Belgian dish, and it is a cousin to the meatball in Dutch cuisine. American meatloaf has its origins in scrapple, a mixture of ground pork and cornmeal served by German-Americans in Pennsylvania since colonial times.

Why do bodybuilders avoid bread? ›

White bread is not necessarily suitable for muscle building exercises. Indeed, it can cause weight gain and fat accumulation in the waist and stomach. White bread is in fact the richest in starch and sugars, which can increase the level of insulin in the blood.

Is meatloaf bad for a diabetic? ›

Traditional meatloaf is a favorite comfort food, but it's not exactly healthy. This roasted vegetable meatloaf is delicious, and it contains diabetes-friendly foods such as zucchini, peppers and olive oil. It also has a lower fat content than traditional meatloaf while still retaining the flavor of ground meat.

Is loaf bread good for diet? ›

Bread is high in carbs, low in micronutrients, and its gluten and antinutrient contents may cause issues for some people. Still, it's often enriched with extra nutrients, and whole-grain or sprouted varieties may bestow several health benefits. In moderation, bread can be enjoyed as part of a healthy diet.

Does meatloaf have a lot of carbs? ›

5 ounces of beef meatloaf (Fully Cooked - H-E-B) contains 250 Calories. The macronutrient breakdown is 19% carbs, 58% fat, and 23% protein. This is a good source of protein (25% of your Daily Value).

How many calories should I eat to lose weight? ›

In order to lose at least a pound a week, try to do at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days, and reduce your daily calorie intake by at least 500 calories. However, calorie intake should not fall below 1,200 a day in women or 1,500 a day in men, except under the supervision of a health professional.

How many calories are in two slices of homemade meatloaf? ›

There are 351 calories in 2 small or thin slices of Meat Loaf Made with Beef.

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